The Boston Bruins didn’t look great Saturday night in a loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. That was far from the case Monday night.
Boston defeated the Winnipeg Jets on the road at the MTS Centre 4-1, improving to 2-1 on the season. And while the Brad Marchand-David Backes-David Pastrnak line had provided all of the offense this season entering Monday’s contest, the B’s spread the wealth a bit in this one with a few surprises showing up on the scorecard.
Additionally, Tuukka Rask was terrific in net, keeping Winnipeg off the board during five power plays and stopping 34 of 35 shots.
Here’s how it went down.
COMEBACK CITY
For the third straight game, the Bruins played from behind early on.
This time, it was former Bruin Blake Wheeler — now the Jets’ captain — who scored exactly 10 minutes into the game to give the Jets a 1-0 lead.
Boston trailed by multiple two-goal deficits in the season opener before coming back to defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets last week, but they weren’t as lucky Saturday night against the Leafs. They found a way to bounce back Monday, though, tallying four unanswered goals in the win.
MOORE POINTS, MORE FUN
Dominic Moore scored his first goal in a Bruins uniform just 19 seconds after Wheeler to tie the game at 1-1.
Tim Schaller and Noel Acciari got the assists on the play.
PASS THE PASTA
David Pastrnak scored the eventual game-winning goal late in the second. The goal actually bounced off the skate of Jets defenseman Tobias Enstrom.
It was the fourth goal of the season for “Pasta,” with assists coming from Marchand and Rask (!). Even better? It happened on National Pasta Day. What are the odds?
BIG-TIME BLUE LINE
Boston’s defensive core was terrific in front of the net all night, aiding Rask in his efforts along the way. But they didn’t just provide defense.
Zdeno Chara scored two goals Monday, though the first was disallowed on a close but still bogus offsides penalty that wasn’t really definitive. He finally got on the board with an empty-net goal in the final moments. Once again, Rask picked up an assist.
Rask’s two assists are the most he’s had in a season since 2013-14, and are one away from tying his career high.
Chara wasn’t the only defenseman to score, though, as 19-year-old Brandon Carlo tallied his first NHL goal with 1:59 left to play in regulation. It was an all-around terrific effort from Boston.
UP NEXT
Thumbnail photo via Bruce Fedyck/USA TODAY Sports Images
